MORNING BUZZ: SC budget breaks for ballgame + senators mull SC State

Budget debate breaks for a ballgame

S.C. senators adjourned at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to play the annual legislative softball game.

Senators will pick up the debate over the state’s nearly $7 billion budget at 10 a.m. beginning with a proposal that could give state employees a $900 bonus, sponsored by state Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw.

State Sen. Lee Bright, R-Spartanburg, began filibustering Sheheen’s pay raise proposal Tuesday. Bright said any surplus money should go to roads.

Bright planned to continue filibustering on Wednesday saying he will speak “as long as I can go.”

S.C. State debate continues

All but one S.C. lawmaker voted this session to oust S.C. State University’s trustees, but the board of the financially troubled school remains in place because legislators cannot agree on the number of interim trustees who should oversee the school or who should appoint them.

That standoff continued Tuesday after a six-member negotiating committee of House and Senate lawmakers failed to reach a compromise despite two hours of negotiations.

The panel plans to meet again Wednesday.

Veterans for healthy food

Retired S.C. military leaders will hold a press conference on the State House grounds to release a new report that says obesity is the leading medical reason why most young adults in South Carolina and nationwide cannot serve in the military. The veterans, part of Mission: Readiness, which bills itself as a nonpartisan national security group, also will push for access to healthy food for children (10 a.m. / Veterans Memorial).

Catch The Buzz: Blog updated all day / Twitter / Facebook

Get the newsletters: Sign up for the Morning Buzz and afternoon update

Got a tip?: Send us an email

This story was originally published May 6, 2015 at 3:00 AM with the headline "MORNING BUZZ: SC budget breaks for ballgame + senators mull SC State."